35c8576c   
   XPost: rec.aviation.piloting   
   From: nospam@nospam.com   
      
   the.sargon@gmail.com wrote:   
   > On Jan 20, 10:11 am, Flydive  wrote:   
   >> the.sar...@gmail.com wrote:   
   >>   
   >>> Low priority compared to flying the plane, deadstick, in a congested   
   >>> urban environment.   
   >>> Or would you rather he spend time looking for a button on the panel?   
   >> Well it takes 3 seconds to flip the switch, you should know where is   
   >> located.   
   >>   
   >> one pilot is flying the aircraft, the other one is assisting and going   
   >> through the checklist.   
   >   
   > Yep.   
   >   
   > Where on the checklist is the instruction to flip this switch?   
   >   
   > One may assume that since it was not flipped it was not at the top of   
   > the list and thus was of a lower priority.  Flying the airplane and   
   > only those steps necessary to (1) avoid obstacles while (2) setting up   
   > for landing are of high(est) priority.   
      
   The ditch switch is at the top of the ditching checklist and usually is   
   a memory item, if you are going to ditch I would say is a priority item.   
      
   Airliners have 2 pilots and usually only one of them is handling the   
   controls, the other one takes care of the emergency and assists the   
   flying pilot. You say setting up for landing, well if you are "landing"   
   in water the water, prepare the aircraft for ditching is part of it, a   
   priority.   
      
      
   >   
   > While correcting for a skid on an icy road you should not be   
   > attempting to change radio stations or answering a cellphone.  I would   
   > imagine that checking to be certain the fasten seatbelt sign was lit   
   > was likewise at the bottom of the list.   
      
   Changing radio stations or answering the phone is not part of the   
   driving, the ditching checklist, flipping the switch is part of the   
   procedure of landing in the water. The fasten seat belt was probably   
   already on in this situation.   
      
   >   
   > Really folks have any of you ever been in an emergency situation?   
   > It's amazing how much focus you get on priorities.  Flying followed by   
   > landing is priority one and from <3000' in the middle of NYC with no   
   > engines you'd best be flying.  First things first.   
      
   Never had a bad emergency yet and hope never will, but I train a lot for   
   it, and the main part of it is follow the procedures for the emergency   
   and in particular the memory items.   
      
   >   
   > With engines out, no APU and probably given the timeframe no RAM the   
   > ditch switch may not have done anything.   
      
   Do not know if the APU was on or not.   
   The ditch switch would have had the time and the power to do his job.   
      
   > Reading many of the posts here I'm concerned about my safety on the   
   > highway; far too many people have their priorities out of whack with   
   > flying, can it be any better in a car?   
      
   Well, if anytime you have something out of the ordinary while driving   
   you get tunnel vision hang on the steering wheel and forget all about   
   all the surroundings and the way to operate safely your car you are   
   quite dangerous too   
      
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